Piezoelectric sealing cap and assembly including the same

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein is a piezoelectric sealing cap, including: a piezoelectric element generating displacement by a driving voltage; and a sealing part formed to surround the piezoelectric element and sealing a bottle neck when the piezoelectric element is inserted into the bottle neck.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the priority of Korean Patent Application No.10-2010-0078490 filed on Aug. 13, 2010, in the Korean IntellectualProperty Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein byreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a piezoelectric sealing cap and anassembly including the same, and more particularly, to a piezoelectricsealing cap completely sealing highly volatile materials, harmfulmaterials, or the like in a reagent bottle, and an assembly includingthe same.

2. Description of the Related Art

When a fluid such as an experimental reagent for research, a beverage orthe like is stored, it should be blocked from being discharged to theoutside. In particular, in the case of highly volatile materials orharmful materials, function of blocking the outflow thereof to theoutside is one of the most important factors in the storage thereof.

In other words, in the case of chemical materials such as anexperimental reagent, the sealing function of the content is consideredto be the most important factor in the storage thereof and therefore acap plays a very important role in a reagent bottle.

In the related art, a cap of a reagent bottle is formed to have aninternal space for receiving an opening, so the reagent bottle mayreceive the opening, wherein an outer circumferential surface of theopening is fastened to an inner circumferential surface of the cap by ascrew connection method.

In addition to the method as described above, when premium content suchas wine is stored, the content is prevented from being discharged to theoutside using the elasticity of a cork stopper.

However, the cap according to the related art using the screw connectionhas disadvantages in that it is difficult to completely connect thescrew connection parts and it is also difficult to manufacture a femalescrew thread and a male screw thread according to precise numericalvalues.

In addition, in the case of the screw connection, it is weakly sealedwhen rotation force is weak. When rotation force is strong in order tostrongly seal the screw, a large torque is required when releasing thesealing.

In addition, in the case of the cap using the cork, it requires aseparate cap opener since it uses the elasticity of the cork. Further,it is very difficult to reseal the cap after the cap has been opened.

Therefore, in the case that highly volatile materials or harmfulmaterials are stored, there is an urgent demand for research into a cap,the sealing of which can be simply released, while completelymaintaining the overall sealing thereof, that is, a sealing cap of areagent bottle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An aspect of the present invention provides a piezoelectric sealing capthat improves the sealing ability of a reagent bottle in which highlyvolatile materials or the like are stored to prevent a danger due to theoutflow of the content therefrom and simply releases the sealingthereof, and an assembly including the same.

A piezoelectric sealing cap according to a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention includes: a piezoelectric element generatingdisplacement by a driving voltage; and a sealing part formed to surroundthe piezoelectric element and sealing a bottle neck when thepiezoelectric element is inserted into the bottle neck.

The sealing part may be formed to cover the outer side of thepiezoelectric element and to be elastically deformed according to thedisplacement of the piezoelectric element.

The sealing part may be made of rubber so as to have elasticity.

The piezoelectric element may include electrode layers formed on anupper surface and a lower surface thereof and when a driving voltage isapplied to the electrode layers, the displacement of the piezoelectricelement may be generated due to attractive or repulsive force betweenthe internal charges of the piezoelectric element and the drivingvoltage.

A driving terminal of the electrode layer at one side may be projectedto the electrode layer at the other side in order to apply a drivingvoltage to the electrode layer.

The driving terminal of the electrode layer at one side may be formed bypenetrating through the sealing part.

A piezoelectric sealing cap assembly according to another preferredembodiment of the present invention includes: a piezoelectric elementgenerating displacement by a driving voltage; a sealing part formed tosurround the piezoelectric element and sealing a bottle neck when thepiezoelectric element is inserted into the bottle neck; and a powersupply unit applying the driving voltage to the piezoelectric element sothat the width of the piezoelectric element is smaller than the width ofthe bottle neck due to attractive force between the internal charges ofthe piezoelectric element and the driving voltage.

The sealing part may be formed to cover the outer side of thepiezoelectric element and be elastically deformed according to thedisplacement of the piezoelectric element.

The sealing part may be made of rubber so as to have elasticity.

When the driving voltage to the piezoelectric element is blocked,attractive force between the internal charges of the piezoelectricelement and the driving voltage may be lost to increase the widths ofthe piezoelectric element and the sealing part.

The piezoelectric element may include electrode layers formed on anupper surface and a lower surface thereof, and a driving voltage may beapplied to the electrode layers.

A driving terminal of the electrode layer at one side may be projectedto the electrode layer at the other side in order to apply a drivingvoltage to the electrode layer.

The driving terminal of the electrode layer at one side may be formed bypenetrating through the sealing part.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects, features and other advantages of thepresent invention will be more clearly understood from the followingdetailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing a piezoelectricsealing cap assembly including a piezoelectric sealing cap according toan exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view schematically showing apiezoelectric sealing cap assembly including a piezoelectric sealing capaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view schematically showing a structure in whicha bottle neck is sealed by a piezoelectric sealing cap according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 4A through 4C are cross-sectional views schematically showing apolling of a piezoelectric sealing cap according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing relationshipbetween a piezoelectric element of a piezoelectric sealing cap accordingto an exemplary embodiment of the present invention and a drivingvoltage thereof;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing relationshipbetween a piezoelectric element of a piezoelectric sealing cap accordingto another exemplary embodiment of the present invention and a drivingvoltage thereof; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view schematically showing relationship betweena piezoelectric element of a piezoelectric sealing cap according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention and a driving voltagethereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now bedescribed in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.However, it should be noted that the spirit of the present invention isnot limited to the embodiments set forth herein and those skilled in theart and understanding the present invention can easily accomplishretrogressive inventions or other embodiments included in the spirit ofthe present invention by the addition, modification, and removal ofcomponents within the same spirit, but those are construed as beingincluded in the spirit of the present invention.

Further, throughout the drawings, the same or similar reference numeralswill be used to designate the same components or like components havingthe same functions in the scope of the similar idea.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing a piezoelectricsealing cap assembly including a piezoelectric sealing cap according toan exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a piezoelectric sealing cap assembly 300 includinga piezoelectric sealing cap 100 according to an exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention may include a piezoelectric sealing cap 100 and areagent bottle 200.

Detailed exemplary embodiments of the piezoelectric sealing cap 100 willbe described hereinafter. The piezoelectric sealing cap assembly 300according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may haveall of the detailed characteristics of each embodiment of thepiezoelectric sealing cap 100.

The reagent bottle 200, which is a bottle in which chemicals are stored,may be a bottle in which highly volatile materials or harmful materialsare put and stored.

However, it is to be noted beforehand that the reagent bottle 200 is notlimited to a bottle in which chemicals are stored but may be replaced bya container in which a general fluid such as a beverage, water, or thelike, drunk in daily life, is stored.

The reagent bottle 200 may include an opening 220 into which fluid to bestored is introduced, and the opening 220 may include a bottle neck 210.

The piezoelectric sealing cap 100 may be inserted into the bottle neck210, the piezoelectric sealing cap 100 for sealing the content of thereagent bottle 200.

Herein, the shape of the piezoelectric sealing cap 100 may correspond tothe shape of the inner circumferential surface of the bottle neck 210,wherein the inner circumferential surface of the bottle neck 210 mayhave a circular shape or a polygonal shape.

In addition, the bottle neck 210 may be a hole having a predeterminedwidth but is not always limited thereto and may have a width thatgradually increases or decreases in a direction towards a lower end ofthe reagent bottle 200.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view schematically showing apiezoelectric sealing cap assembly including a piezoelectric sealing capaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.3 is a perspective view schematically showing a structure in which abottle neck is sealed by a piezoelectric sealing cap according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, when a driving voltage is applied to thepiezoelectric sealing cap 100 according to an exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention by a power supply unit 250, the diameter of thepiezoelectric sealing cap 100 may be reduced to a smaller diameter thanthe diameter of the opening 220 of the reagent bottle 200.

In this configuration, the principle of displacement generation of thepiezoelectric sealing cap 100 will be described later with reference toFIGS. 4 to 7, and the relationship between the piezoelectric sealing cap100 and the opening 220 of the reagent bottle 200 will be describedhereinafter.

When a driving voltage is applied to the piezoelectric sealing cap 100by the power supply unit 250, the diameter of the piezoelectric sealingcap 100 is reduced to be smaller than the diameter of the innercircumferential surface of the bottle neck 210 of the reagent bottle200.

Therefore, the piezoelectric sealing cap 100 may be easily inserted intothe bottle neck 210.

Even after being inserted, the piezoelectric sealing cap 100 may bemoved up and down in the bottle neck 210 and after being moved to adesired position to be fixed, it may block the driving voltage from thepower supply unit 250.

At this time, a separate switch (not shown) may be provided so as toblock the driving voltage from the power supply unit 250 and the drivingvoltage may be freely applied or blocked by the switch.

When a driving voltage from the power supply unit 250 is blocked, thediameter of the piezoelectric sealing cap 100 is increased andsubsequently, closely attached to the inner circumferential surface ofthe bottle neck 210 of the reagent bottle 200.

Therefore, the content of the reagent bottle 200 may be sealed by thepiezoelectric sealing cap 100 and the described process may be reverselyperformed when the sealing thereof is released.

In other words, when the driving voltage blocked by the piezoelectricsealing cap 100 is applied again, the diameter of the piezoelectricsealing cap 100 is reduced, thereby being easily pulled out from thebottle neck 210.

FIGS. 4A through 4C are cross-sectional views schematically showing apolling of a piezoelectric sealing cap according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 5 through 7 arecross-sectional views and a perspective view schematically showingrelationship between a piezoelectric element of a piezoelectric sealingcap according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention and adriving voltage thereof.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the piezoelectric sealing cap 100 accordingto the present invention may include a piezoelectric element 150 and asealing part 130.

The piezoelectric element 150 may include an upper electrode 120 a, alower electrode 120 b, and a piezoelectric body 110, wherein the upperelectrode 120 a and the lower electrode 120 b may provide a drivingvoltage to the piezoelectric body 110 to generate displacement of thepiezoelectric element 150.

The piezoelectric body 110 may be formed as piezoelectric fluid havingviscosity is solidified between the upper electrode 120 a and the lowerelectrode 120 b, and the piezoelectric body 110 is a material capable ofconverting electrical energy into mechanical energy or mechanical energyinto electrical energy.

In other words, the piezoelectric body 110 may be made of a material inwhich polarization is induced in the material when mechanical pressureis applied from the outside or mechanical deformation is generated dueto external electric field.

The piezoelectric body 110 may include a lead zirconate titanate (Pb(Zr,Ti)03: PZT) ceramic and have a perovskite crystal structure.

In addition, the piezoelectric body 110 may require a polling process soas to have the characteristics as described above.

Referring to FIGS. 4A through 4C, when DC field 260 is generated byapplying voltage to the upper and lower electrodes (not shown)positioned on the upper and lower portions of the piezoelectric body110, adjacent directions of a dipole gradually correspond to each otherdue to the DC field 260.

In other words, a process of applying the DC field 260 to thepiezoelectric body 110 and then removing it again is called ‘polling’.The polling will be described hereinafter.

FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view showing an internal structure of thepiezoelectric body 110 in an initial state, wherein polarization of thepiezoelectric body 110 in an initial state has a random arrangement.

In the piezoelectric body 110 in an initial state, which is apolycrystal, the inside of each crystalline grain is generally dividedinto several polarizations having different polarization directions, theentirety of the polarizations in this state are offset so as not to berepresented to the outside.

In the piezoelectric body 110 in an initial state, polarization is notentirely formed. As a result, when mechanical pressure is applied fromthe outside, polarization may not be induced in the material ormechanical deformation may not be generated due to an external electricfield.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4B, polarization may be induced by applyingthe DC field 260 to the upper and lower electrodes (not shown) of thepiezoelectric body 110 in an initial state.

In other words, when the DC field 260 is applied to the piezoelectricbody 110 in an initial state, the polarization direction in the crystalis polarized according to the DC field direction and at the same time,the length of the crystalline grain is lengthened in the electric fielddirection 115.

Thereafter, the applied DC field 260 is removed. The internal structureof the piezoelectric body 110 from which the DC field 260 is removed isshown in FIG. 4C.

It can be appreciated from FIG. 4C that the length of the crystallinegrain is changed to be lengthened in the polarization shaft as comparedto that in an initial state shown in FIG. 4A.

In other words, even though the DC field 260 is applied to thepiezoelectric body 110 in an initial state and then is removed, thecrystalline grains are not returned to their original states and themajority of the crystalline grains maintain a polarized state.

This is the reason that the remnant strain 115 and remnant polarizationare generated in the piezoelectric body 110 due to the polling.

In this case, the remnant strain 115 implies that a state of thecrystalline grain is changed due to the polling and the remnantpolarization implies that polarization is formed in the applied fielddirection.

Therefore, negative (−) charges and positive (+) charges are captured onthe upper portion and the lower portion of the piezoelectric body 110 asa whole.

The piezoelectric body 110, subjected to the polling as described above,becomes more dense and has electrical characteristics, thereby making itpossible to perform the function of the piezoelectric sealing cap 100.

The piezoelectric sealing cap 100 may include a piezoelectric element150 configured of the upper and lower electrodes 120 a and 120 b asdescribed above and a sealing part 130.

Herein, the upper and the lower electrodes 120 a and 120 b are electrodelayers 120 positioned on the upper portion and the lower portion of thepiezoelectric body 110. The upper and lower electrodes 120 a and 120 bmay be evenly positioned over the upper portion and the lower portion ofthe piezoelectric body 110 so that the driving voltage of the powersupply unit 250 is evenly applied to the piezoelectric body 110.

The electrode layer 120 may be made of at least any one of platinum(Pt), gold (Au), silver (Ag), nickel (Ni), titanium (Ti), copper (Cu),and the like. The electrode layer 120 may be formed on the upper surfaceand the lower surface of the piezoelectric body 110 by inkjet printing,E-beam evaporation, chemical vapor deposition (CVD), sputtering, screenprinting, plating, or the like.

Referring to FIG. 5, the piezoelectric sealing cap 100 according to thepresent invention is formed with polarizations through the polling asdescribed above, and negative (−) charges and positive (+) charges maybe separately formed on the upper portion and the lower portion thereofas a whole.

At this time, a positive (+) terminal of the power supply unit 250 isconnected to the upper electrode 120 a in which negative (−) charges aredense, and a negative (−) terminal of the power supply unit 250 isconnected to the lower electrode 120 b in which positive (+) charges aredense.

When the power supply unit 250 is electrically connected to theelectrode layer 120, the piezoelectric element 150 is expanded due toattractive force between the internal charges of the piezoelectricelement 150 and the applied voltage from the power supply unit 250.

In other words, the width of the piezoelectric sealing cap 100 becomessmaller than the inner circumferential surface of the bottle neck 210 ofthe reagent bottle 200, thereby being easily inserted into the bottleneck 210 (see FIG. 2).

However, a driving terminal of the lower electrode 120 b of theelectrode layer 120 may be projected to the upper electrode 120 a, inconsideration of the characteristics of the piezoelectric sealing cap100, and may be projected upward by penetrating through the sealing part130 described below.

When the piezoelectric sealing cap 100 is inserted into the bottle neck210 and then the driving voltage from the power supply unit 250 isblocked, the width of the piezoelectric element 150 is graduallyincreased, thereby finally making it possible to completely seal thebottle neck 210 (see FIG. 3).

In other words, when the driving voltage to the piezoelectric element150 is blocked, attractive force between the internal charge of thepiezoelectric element 150 and the driving voltage is lost and thus thewidth of the piezoelectric element 150 is increased, thereby sealing thebottle neck 210.

Therefore, it is possible to prevent highly volatile materials orharmful materials in the reagent bottle 200 from being discharged andeasily insert the piezoelectric sealing cap 100 into the bottle neck 210of the reagent bottle 200.

In addition, when the piezoelectric sealing cap 100 is to be detachedfrom the bottle neck 210, it may be performed by reversely conductingthe processes. In other words, it may be performed only by applying thedriving voltage from the power supply unit 250 to the electrode layer120 of the piezoelectric element 150.

In this configuration, the piezoelectric sealing cap 100 may include thesealing part 130. The sealing part 130 is formed to surround thepiezoelectric element 150, thereby making it possible to seal the bottleneck 210 when the piezoelectric element 150 is inserted into the bottleneck 210.

Herein, the sealing part 130 may be formed to cover the outer side ofthe piezoelectric element 150 and be elastically deformed according tothe displacement of the piezoelectric element 150.

In addition, the sealing part 130 may be made of rubber in order to haveelasticity. As described above, the driving terminal may penetratethrough the sealing part 130 so that the driving terminal of theelectrode layer 120 at one side of the piezoelectric element 150 isprojected upward.

When the piezoelectric sealing cap 100 is inserted into the bottle neck210, the sealing part 130 can completely seal the bottle neck 210 andsurround the upper surface of the piezoelectric sealing cap 100 to beopened as shown in FIG. 6.

The above embodiment describes a case in which negative (−) charges andpositive (+) charges are separately formed on the upper portion and thelower portion of the piezoelectric element 150 by polling; however, theinverse case is also obvious.

In other words, as the positive (+) terminal and the negative (−)terminal of the power supply unit 250 are inversely connected, theinternal charges of the piezoelectric element 150 and the drivingvoltage of the power supply unit 250 generate repulsive force, such thatthe piezoelectric sealing cap 100 may be expanded.

However, in this case, when the bottle neck 210 is sealed, the powersupply unit 250 is connected and when the content of the reagent bottle200 is stored, the power supply unit 250 should be always connected.Therefore, it may be preferable that the bottle neck 210 is sealed byattractive force.

As described above, when highly volatile materials or harmful materialsare stored in the reagent bottle 200 using electrical characteristics ofthe piezoelectric body 110, the piezoelectric sealing cap 100 accordingto the present invention can improve sealing force of the reagent bottle200 to prevent damage due to the leakage of the content and be simplyreleased after being sealed.

As set forth above, according to the piezoelectric sealing cap and anassembly including the same according to exemplary embodiments of theinvention, highly volatile materials, harmful materials, or the like,can be completely sealed, thereby making it possible to securestability.

In addition, the size of the piezoelectric sealing cap is changed by adriving voltage, thereby making it possible to easily seal the cap orrelease it after being sealed.

While the present invention has been shown and described in connectionwith the exemplary embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled inthe art that modifications and variations can be made without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A piezoelectric sealing cap, comprising: apiezoelectric element generating displacement by a driving voltage; anda sealing part formed to surround the piezoelectric element and sealinga bottle neck when the piezoelectric element is inserted into the bottleneck.
 2. The piezoelectric sealing cap of claim 1, wherein the sealingpart is formed to cover the outer side of the piezoelectric element andis elastically deformed according to the displacement of thepiezoelectric element.
 3. The piezoelectric sealing cap of claim 1,wherein the sealing part is made of rubber so as to have elasticity. 4.The piezoelectric sealing cap of claim 1, wherein the piezoelectricelement includes electrode layers formed on an upper surface and a lowersurface thereof and when a driving voltage is applied to the electrodelayers, the displacement of the piezoelectric element is generated dueto attractive or repulsive force between the internal charges of thepiezoelectric element and the driving voltage.
 5. The piezoelectricsealing cap of claim 4, wherein a driving terminal of the electrodelayer at one side is projected to the electrode layer at the other sidein order to apply a driving voltage to the electrode layer.
 6. Thepiezoelectric sealing cap of claim 5, wherein the driving terminal ofthe electrode layer at one side is formed by penetrating through thesealing part.
 7. A piezoelectric sealing cap assembly, comprising: apiezoelectric element generating displacement by a driving voltage; asealing part formed to surround the piezoelectric element and sealing abottle neck when the piezoelectric element is inserted into the bottleneck; and a power supply unit applying the driving voltage to thepiezoelectric element so that the width of the piezoelectric element issmaller than the width of the bottle neck due to attractive forcebetween the internal charges of the piezoelectric element and thedriving voltage.
 8. The piezoelectric sealing cap assembly of claim 7,wherein the sealing part is formed to cover the outer side of thepiezoelectric element and is elastically deformed according to thedisplacement of the piezoelectric element.
 9. The piezoelectric sealingcap assembly of claim 7, wherein the sealing part is made of rubber soas to have elasticity.
 10. The piezoelectric sealing cap assembly ofclaim 7, wherein when the driving voltage to the piezoelectric device isblocked, attractive force between the internal charges of thepiezoelectric element and the driving voltage is lost to increase thewidths of the piezoelectric element and the sealing part.
 11. Thepiezoelectric sealing cap assembly of claim 7, wherein the piezoelectricelement includes electrode layers formed on an upper surface and a lowersurface thereof, and a driving voltage is applied to the electrodelayers.
 12. The piezoelectric sealing cap assembly of claim 11, whereina driving terminal of the electrode layer at one side is projected tothe electrode layer at the other side in order to apply a drivingvoltage to the electrode layer.
 13. The sealing piezoelectric capassembly of claim 12, wherein the driving terminal of the electrodelayer at one side is formed by penetrating through the sealing part.